Systems and methods for optimizing authentication branch instructions

A method, comprising:

• fetching, by an instruction cache of a processor, groups of instructions from an instruction cache;
• generating, by an execution unit, prior to completing execution of a fetched call instruction, a signature to be used for authenticating a return address of a subroutine identified by the call instruction;
• storing, by the execution unit in a data storage location, a concatenation of the return address of the subroutine and the signature;
• and
• transferring control of a computer program, by the execution unit to the subroutine, based at least in part on a determination that execution of the call instruction has completed.

A computing system, comprising:

• an instruction fetch unit configured to fetch groups of instructions from an instruction cache;
• and
• an execution unit configured to:
• generate, prior to completing execution of a fetched call instruction, signature to be used for authenticating a return address of a subroutine identified by the call instruction;
• store, in a data storage location, a concatenation of the return address of the subroutine and the signature;
• and
• transfer control of a computer program to the subroutine, based at least in part on a determination that execution of the call instruction has completed.